JP2013517125A - Injection of individual quantities of highly viscous liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

  In one aspect, the adhesive dispensing system comprises a dispensing module having an inlet and an outlet, a hot melt adhesive supply section maintained at a low pressure, and a low pressure liquid passage communicating between the supply section and the inlet of the dispensing module. With. Liquid material is received at low pressure through the inlet, and the discharge module rapidly generates high pressure at the outlet to eject liquid material from the outlet. In another aspect, an apparatus for ejecting liquid material includes a discharge apparatus body having a liquid chamber. The piston moves into a liquid chamber from a position where the piston tip is spaced from a complementary shaped recess, to a position where the piston tip effectively seals the recess, and then the piston tip is received in the recess individually. The liquid material is disposed so as to be movable to a position where the liquid material is displaced from the depression.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for ejecting a liquid material, and more particularly to an ejection and ejection apparatus that ejects an individual amount of a highly viscous liquid.

[Cross-reference of related applications]
This application claims the benefit of priority of US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 294,972 (pending), filed January 14, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Incorporated.

  Liquid ejection devices that eject fluids of relatively low viscosity, such as soldering fluxes, insulating protective coatings, encapsulants, underfill materials and surface mount adhesives are known in the art, and liquid ejection devices are generally In particular, the valve seat is operated to eject a small amount of liquid material onto the substrate by rapidly contacting the valve member and generating separate high pressure pulses that eject a small amount of liquid from the dispensing device. As used herein, the ejection of liquid material refers to the rapid ejection of individual masses of liquid material from a dispensing device at high speed. Jetting is contrasted with extrusion where the liquid material is ejected as a continuous elongated filament, commonly referred to as an “bead” of adhesive. Drops can be formed by quickly opening and closing valves during extrusion of liquid material, or by pulverizing with air when discharging the extruded beads, but these processes This is clearly different from the jetting process in which individual liquid masses are jetted quickly and rapidly directly from the discharge device.

  1A and 1B show the operation of a conventional jetting and discharging apparatus 10. In FIG. 1A, the valve member 12 quickly moves through the fluid channel 14 in the direction of the valve seat 16 having an outlet 18. As the valve member 12 approaches the valve seat 16, the liquid material 20 in the channel 14 flows around the valve tip 12a. FIG. 1B shows the injection / discharge device 10 at the moment when the valve tip 12 a contacts the valve seat 16. The momentum of the collision between the valve member 12 and the valve seat 16 generates a pressure pulse that causes a small amount of liquid 20 a to be ejected through the outlet 18. Patent Document 1 to Smith et al. And Patent Document 2 to Messary et al., Both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present application, relate to an injection and discharge apparatus.

  Conventional jetting and dispensing devices require precise timing control to ensure that a consistent amount of liquid material is jetted from the dispensing device. For example, if the valve timing is too early, there will not be enough time for the liquid material to be refilled into the dispensing device, resulting in less liquid being dispensed than desired. Similarly, if the timing is too late, the resulting amount of liquid will be greater than desired. Hot melt adhesives are properly dispensed by jetting devices due to their high viscosity and general rheological differences between hot melt adhesives and liquid materials traditionally used in jetting processes It has long been thought that it cannot be done. In response, hot melt adhesives have typically been dispensed by dedicated hot melt adhesive dispensing systems that use high pressure to deliver adhesive to the dispensing module. Typical pressures range from 400 pounds per square inch (psi) to 1000 pounds per square inch (psi). A valve in the dispensing module opens and closes to regulate the flow of high pressure hot melt adhesive through the outlet nozzle.

US Pat. No. 5,747,102 US Pat. No. 6,253,957

  There is a need for a method and apparatus that dispenses high viscosity materials, such as hot melt adhesives, in discrete small quantities, overcoming these and other disadvantages of conventional dispensing systems.

  The present invention overcomes the aforementioned and other shortcomings and disadvantages of known adhesive dispensing systems used to dispense individual small quantities of liquid materials, particularly high viscosity liquid materials such as hot melt adhesives. While the invention will be described in connection with specific embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Rather, the present invention includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the scope of the present invention.

  In one aspect, a dispensing system for injecting a liquid material includes an adhesive dispensing module having an inlet and an outlet, a hot melt adhesive supply maintained at a low pressure, and between the supply and the inlet of the dispensing module. And a low-pressure liquid passage for communicating with each other. The liquid material is received through the inlet at a low pressure, and the module rapidly generates a high pressure to eject the liquid material from the outlet.

  In another aspect, the adhesive dispensing module includes a liquid channel in communication with the outlet and a recess proximate to the outlet. A piston is disposed in the channel and the recess has a shape that is complementary to the tip of the piston. High pressure that injects liquid material from the outlet occurs when the piston tip moves into the recess.

  In one embodiment, the hot melt adhesive supply section is adapted to contain the hot melt adhesive in a solid form, and the discharge system includes a spiral blade for feeding the hot melt adhesive toward the discharge module. including. In another embodiment, the dispensing system includes a vacuum feeding mechanism that delivers hot melt adhesive toward the dispensing module. In yet another embodiment, the dispensing system includes a first adhesive dispensing module and a second adhesive dispensing having respective first and second inlets and first and second outlets. Including modules. The first inlet and the second inlet receive liquid material at the same low pressure from the supply through the respective first low pressure liquid passage and the second low pressure liquid passage, and the discharge module is proximate to each outlet. High pressure is generated to inject liquid material from the outlet at different speeds.

  In another aspect, an apparatus for ejecting liquid material includes a dispenser body having a liquid chamber connectable to a source of liquid material, and a piston having a piston tip is movably disposed within the liquid chamber. The recess in communication with the liquid chamber and the liquid outlet has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the piston tip so that the piston tip can be received in the recess. The piston moves from a position where the piston tip is spaced from the recess to a position where the piston tip effectively seals the recess, and then the piston tip is received in the recess to displace an individual amount of liquid material from the recess. Can move up to.

  In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a nozzle operably connected to the open end of the dispensing apparatus body in communication with the liquid chamber. The depression is formed in the nozzle. In another embodiment, the piston tip has a spherical shape.

  In another aspect, the method of ejecting the liquid material is sufficient to fill the liquid chamber, but the liquid material is ejected at a pressure that does not cause the liquid material to be ejected from an outlet associated with the recess and in communication with the liquid chamber. High pressure to feed a liquid chamber, to effectively seal a discrete amount of liquid material in close proximity to the recess, and to generate a high pressure in the recess, injecting the discrete amount of liquid material from the outlet Generating.

  The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and description thereof.

It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the conventional jetting / discharging apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the conventional jetting / discharging apparatus. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary dispensing system according to the present disclosure. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the discharge system of FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the discharge module of FIG. 3. It is an expanded sectional view which shows operation | movement of the discharge system of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which shows operation | movement of the discharge system of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which shows operation | movement of the discharge system of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 5A to 5C, illustrating a second exemplary embodiment of a liquid ejection system according to the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a schematic elevation view illustrating a third exemplary dispensing system according to the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a schematic elevation view of a fourth exemplary dispensing system according to the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a schematic elevation view of a fifth exemplary dispensing system according to the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a sixth exemplary dispensing system according to the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a schematic elevation view of a seventh exemplary dispensing system according to the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of another exemplary nozzle for use with the dispensing system of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of another exemplary nozzle for use with the dispensing system of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of another exemplary nozzle for use with the dispensing system of FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle 52A in a state where the piston tip is in the position shown in FIG. 12B. It is sectional drawing of the nozzle 52A in the state which has a piston front-end | tip in the position shown by FIG. 12C.

  FIG. 2 shows an exemplary liquid ejection system 30 that ejects a small amount of individual high viscosity material 31, such as a hot melt adhesive, onto a substrate 33. For example, the dispensing system 30 can be used to dispense a liquid material having a viscosity in the range of about 100 centipoise (cps) to about 20000 centipoise (cps). In another aspect, the jetting and dispensing apparatus 10 can be used to dispense a material having a viscosity in the range of about 100 centipoise (cps) to about 25000 centipoise (cps). The dispensing system 30 includes a liquid dispensing module 32 that is coupled to a source of liquid material. In the illustrated embodiment, the module 32 is connected to an adhesive manifold 34 that supplies heated hot melt adhesive to the module 32 at low pressure. For example, the pressure of the adhesive supplied to the module 32 ranges from about pounds per square inch (psi) to about 40 pounds per square inch (psi), or suitable for supplying hot melt adhesive to the module 32. Other pressure ranges can be assumed. Module 32 is also coupled to an air manifold 36 that supplies pressurized air from a source (not shown) to module 32.

  3 and 4, the discharge module 32 includes a module body 38 in which a liquid chamber 40 is formed. A liquid supply passage 42 is in communication with the liquid chamber 40 to supply liquid material from the adhesive manifold 34 to the liquid chamber 40. In the illustrated embodiment, a liquid passage 44 formed in the air manifold 36 is in communication with the outlet 46 of the adhesive manifold 34, whereby liquid material is passed from the outlet 46 of the adhesive manifold 34 to the liquid. It flows to the liquid chamber 40 through the supply passage 44 and the supply passage 42 of the module 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the manifold 34 is low pressure (eg, in the range of about 5 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 40 pounds per square inch (psi) through a manifold passage 39 in communication with the liquid passage 44, or other A liquid reservoir 35 connected to a pressure source 37 supplying hot melt adhesive at a suitable pressure range). Since the liquid material is supplied at such a low pressure, the dispensing system 30 does not require a piston pump, gear pump, or other type of pump normally required to generate a high pressure. A simple diaphragm pump or pressure pot is sufficient to provide low pressure. It will be appreciated that various other arrangements and configurations may alternatively be used to supply hot melt adhesive or other material to module 32.

  The module body 38 includes an open first end 50 in communication with the liquid chamber 40 and adapted to receive the discharge nozzle 52. The discharge module 32 further includes a piston rod 54 having a first end 56 that is reciprocable within the liquid chamber 40. The piston tip 58 is connected to the first end 56 of the piston rod 54. The piston tip 58 is shown and described as a separate component connected to the piston rod 54 in this embodiment, but may alternatively be integrally formed with the piston rod 54. The second end 60 of the piston rod 54 is connected to an air piston 62 that is slidable within a piston cavity 64 formed in the module body 38. Seals 66 a, 66 b disposed between the liquid chamber 40 and the piston cavity 64 allow the piston rod 54 to slide while sealing the liquid chamber 40 from the piston cavity 64. When the nozzle 52 is connected to the first end 50 of the module body 38, the compression spring 67 biases the seal 66 b against the module body 38 to seal the liquid chamber 40. Pressurized air from an air supply source (not shown) is supplied to the piston cavity 64 through the air supply passages 68 and 70, so that the air piston 62, and thus the piston rod 54 and the piston tip 58, are nozzles. Quickly move in the direction of contact with 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the air supply passages 68, 70 are in fluid communication with air passages 69, 71 in the air manifold 36, and the air passages 69, 71 are further operably connected to an air supply source. . Pressurized air supplied through the air supply passage 68 drives the piston away from the nozzle 52, while pressurized air supplied through the air supply passage 70 drives the piston in the direction toward the nozzle 52. To drive. It will be appreciated that various other methods and configurations for supplying pressurized air to the piston cavity 64 may alternatively be used. The module 32 further includes an adjustment knob 72 that selectively adjusts the stroke of the piston rod 54 to facilitate changing the speed of the piston rod 58 during each cycle of the piston rod 54. Longer strokes allow greater acceleration and thus allow faster speed of the piston rod 54.

  The nozzle 52 is connected to the open first end 50 of the module body 38. The nozzle 52 includes a nozzle body 74 having a recess 76 formed in a shape that is complementary to the shape of the piston tip 58 so that the piston tip 58 can be received in the recess 76. In the illustrated embodiment, the piston tip 58 is hemispherical and the recess 76 has a generally hemispherical complementary shape. However, it will be appreciated that the nozzle tip 58 and the recess 76 may have a variety of other complementary shapes. The nozzle body 74 further includes an outlet 78 that communicates with the recess 76 via the nozzle passage 80 so that when the piston tip 58 is received within the recess 76, the liquid material in the liquid chamber 40 is transferred to the nozzle passage 80 and the nozzle. It can be discharged through the outlet 78. The nozzle 52 can further include an O-ring 81 that seals against the module body 38 at the open first end 50.

  In operation, pressurized air is supplied to the piston cavity 64 through the air supply passage 68 to move the piston rod 54 away from the nozzle 52, thereby causing the piston tip 58 to be shown schematically in FIG. 5A. Retreats from the recess 76 so that the liquid material enters the liquid chamber 40 and fills the liquid chamber 40 and the recess 76. The liquid material is supplied from the adhesive manifold 34 at a pressure sufficient to fill the liquid chamber 40 and the recess 76 but not cause the liquid material to be ejected from the nozzle outlet 78. Next, pressurized air is supplied to the piston cavity 64 through the air supply passage 70, thereby causing the piston rod 54 to quickly move the piston tip 58 in the direction toward the nozzle 52. As the piston tip 58 begins to enter the recess 76, the piston tip 58 substantially seals the recess 76 along the upper edge 82 as shown in FIG. An amount of liquid is defined. It is understood that there is some clearance between the piston tip 58 and the upper edge 82 of the recess 76 that allows the piston tip 58 to enter and exit the recess 76 without being coupled to the recess 76. It will be. As used herein, substantially sealing between the piston tip 58 and the recess 76 means that the gap between the piston tip 58 and the upper edge 82 of the recess 76 allows the liquid material to move around the piston tip 58. Rather than simply moving, it means that it is small enough to be forced through the nozzle passage 80 and nozzle outlet 78 by the piston tip 58.

  The piston rod 54 moves in a direction toward the nozzle 52 such that the piston tip 58 continues to enter the recess 76 and displace the liquid material in the recess 76 through the nozzle passage 80 and nozzle outlet 78 as shown in FIG. 5C. Keep doing. Because the piston tip 58 effectively seals the recess 76 as described above, a discrete amount of liquid material is defined as the piston tip 58 continues to enter the recess 76 and a high pressure is generated between the piston tip 58 and the recess 76. To do. The pressure generated can range from about 100 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 2500 pounds per square inch (psi). In another embodiment, the pressure generated may range from about 400 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 2500 pounds per square inch (psi). In this manner, the individual amount of the liquid material 31 is ejected from the nozzle outlet 78 toward the base material 33.

  Although the module 32 has been described herein as having a piston rod 54 and a piston tip 58 driven by an air piston 62, various other structures and methods can alternatively be used to increase the pressure near the nozzle outlet. It will be appreciated that a discrete amount of liquid material may be generated and ejected from the nozzle outlet.

  As described above, after the individual amount of the liquid material 31 is injected from the nozzle outlet 78, the pressurized air can be supplied to the piston cavity 64 again to move the piston rod 54 away from the nozzle 52, as desired. In this case, the entire process can be repeated to discharge a continuous discrete amount of liquid material from the nozzle outlet 78. The operation of the discharge system 30 as described above is controlled by a controller, and an individual amount of liquid material is discharged at a desired frequency with respect to the speed of the base material 33 that moves relative to the module 32. It will be appreciated that a desired spacing may be provided therebetween.

  Although the operation of the module 32 has been described and illustrated in a manner in which the piston tip 58 is fully seated in the recess 76 and dispenses substantially the entire amount of liquid material in the recess 76, the range of movement of the piston 54 is that of the piston tip 58. May be alternatively controlled so that they do not fully seat in the recess 76 at the end of each stroke of the piston 54, thereby allowing a smaller amount of liquid material to be dispensed than in the recess 76. It will be appreciated.

  FIG. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of a liquid ejection system similar to the liquid ejection system 30 described above, but here a modified ejection nozzle 52 a is coupled to the module body 38. The nozzle body 74a shown in this embodiment is configured to inject a discrete amount of liquid material through the outlet 78 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the piston rod 54. The operation of the dispensing system is otherwise similar to that described above with respect to FIGS. 2-5C, and similar features are labeled with similar reference numerals. Such an embodiment may be useful, for example, for injecting discrete amounts of liquid material onto a vertically oriented surface such as the surface of a label or the surface of a container during labeling. The nozzle body 74a is shown and described as having an outlet 78 that is configured to inject liquid material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the piston rod 54, but for a given application. It will be appreciated that various other configurations of the nozzle body can be used to spray the liquid material in various other directions or in various other ways, if desired.

  FIG. 7 illustrates another exemplary liquid dispensing system 100 that dispenses a discrete small amount of a high viscosity material 102 such as a hot melt adhesive onto a substrate 104. The dispensing system 100 includes a dispensing module 106 as described above that is operatively coupled to the support structure 108 for movement relative to the substrate 104. Since the discharge module 106 is configured similarly to the module 32 described above, the details of the module 106 will not be repeated here. The dispensing system 100 further includes a pressure pot 110 that includes a hot melt adhesive supply and is configured to supply the hot melt adhesive to the dispensing module 106 at a low pressure. The pressure pot 110 can be adapted to melt the hot melt adhesive and / or maintain the heated temperature of the hot melt adhesive. The pressure pot 110 is coupled to the low pressure air source 112, such as by a hose 114 or other suitable connection. The pressure pot 110 further includes a gauge 116 that indicates the internal pressure of the pressure pot 110. Hot melt adhesive is transferred between the pressure pot 110 and the discharge module 106 by the low pressure liquid passage 118. The low pressure liquid passage 118 can be a rigid connection such as a flexible hose, pipe, or any other suitable structure. Pressurized air from the air supply source 120 is also supplied to the discharge module 106 to operate the discharge module 106 as described above. Specifically, the nozzle is used to rapidly move the piston using pressurized air to inject the liquid material as discrete small quantities toward the substrate in a manner similar to that described above with respect to FIGS. 5A-5C. A high pressure is generated at the outlet of the.

  FIG. 8 illustrates another exemplary liquid dispensing system 130 that dispenses a discrete small amount of a high viscosity material, such as a hot melt adhesive, onto a substrate. In this embodiment, the first discharge module 132a, the second discharge module 132b, and the third discharge module 132c are each a low pressure liquid passage 136a such as a flexible hose, a rigid pipe, or any other suitable structure. 136b and 136c are connected to a common pressure pot 134. The pressure pot 134 can be adapted to melt the hot melt adhesive and / or maintain the heated temperature of the hot melt adhesive. Each module 132a, 132b, 132c is operably coupled to a high pressure source 138a, 138b, 138c to operate these respective discharge modules 132a, 132b, 132c in the manner described above. Modules 132a, 132b, 132c may be coupled to the same pressure source, or individual pressure sources 138a, 138b, 138c may be dedicated to each module 132a, 132b, 132c. In use, a liquid material such as hot melt adhesive is supplied from the pressure pot 134 to each discharge module 132a, 132b, 132c through the respective low pressure liquid passages 136a, 136b, 136c at a common pressure. Thereafter, each discharge module 132a, 132b, 132c operates to discharge a small amount of a separate liquid material to the respective substrate 140a, 140b, 140c. Modules 132a, 132b, 132c can operate independently of each other such that the amount and frequency with which individual amounts of liquid material are dispensed can vary from module to module. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the first module 132a can discharge the liquid material at the first individual amount 142a and at the first frequency with respect to the movement of the first substrate, The discharged amount 142a of liquid material is thereby received on the substrate 140a in a closely spaced arrangement. The second discharge module 132b generates a second individual amount 142b of liquid material, which is larger than the first individual amount 142a discharged from the first discharge device 132a, with respect to the movement of the second base material 140b. Can be operated to dispense at a frequency of 2 so that an individual amount 142b of liquid material is received on the substrate 140b in a spaced apart arrangement. The third discharge module 132c has a third individual amount 142c of liquid material that is less than the liquid material of the first individual amount 142a and the second individual amount 142b with respect to the movement of the third substrate 140c. It can be operated to dispense at a frequency such that the dispensed third discrete amount 142c of liquid material is spaced a desired distance on the substrate 140c.

  FIG. 9 illustrates yet another exemplary liquid ejection system 150 that dispenses individual small quantities of viscous material 152 onto the substrate 154. In this embodiment, a supply unit 156 for supplying a liquid material such as a hot melt adhesive is directly connected to the discharge module 158 and supported by the discharge module 158. Since the dispensing module 158 is configured to dispense such a small amount of liquid material 152, the size of the adhesive supply 156 is required to dispense during a given time period, eg, the entire shift. Can be selected to contain only enough liquid material to be produced. The adhesive supply 156 includes a housing 160 that defines a reservoir 162 that receives material to be dispensed, such as hot melt adhesive 163, in solid or particulate form, and a closure member that is selectively positionable on the reservoir 162. 164. The reservoir 162 is configured to melt the hot melt adhesive and / or maintain the heated temperature of the hot melt adhesive. A suitable passage 166 or other fluid connection provides fluid communication between the reservoir 162 and the discharge module 158. Module 158 is operably coupled to a pressurized air source 168 and operates as described above. When the dispensing system 150 is pressurized to transfer adhesive from the reservoir 162 to the dispensing module 158, the closure member 164 is at the low pressure required to transfer hot melt adhesive from the reservoir 162 to the dispensing module 158. The reservoir 162 can be configured to seal at least to withstand.

  FIG. 10 is similar to the dispensing system 130 shown and described above with respect to FIG. 9, but with a separate, small amount of high viscosity, including a hopper 178 in which the adhesive supply 176 receives a hot melt adhesive 180 in solid or particulate form. 8 shows yet another exemplary liquid ejection system 170 that ejects material 172 onto a substrate 174. FIG. The adhesive supply unit 176 transfers the granular hot melt adhesive 180 from the hopper 178 to the manifold 186 to melt the hot melt adhesive and then supplies the molten hot melt adhesive to the discharge module 188. And a spiral blade 182 driven by the drive shaft 184. In this embodiment, the hot melt adhesive supply pressure is provided by the spiral blade 182. The discharge module 188 is coupled to a pressurized air source 190 that operates the discharge module 188, and the discharge module 188 otherwise operates as described above.

  FIG. 11 shows another exemplary liquid dispensing system 200 that dispenses a discrete small amount of high viscosity material 202, such as a hot melt adhesive, onto a substrate 204. Discharge system 200 includes a manifold 206 and a discharge module 208, which is connected to a pressurized air source 210 that operates the discharge module 208 as described above. Material 212 to be dispensed, such as hot melt adhesive, is supplied to the manifold 206 in particulate form from a tank 214 operatively connected to the inlet 216 of the manifold 206 by a passage 218. In this embodiment, the tank 214 is not pressurized and the material 212 is drawn through the inlet 220 of the vacuum feed mechanism 222 and carried through the passage 218 to the manifold 206, after which the material is similar to the manner described above. In a manner it is melted and directed to the discharge module 208. Manifold 206 is suitably configured to melt material 212 and to supply molten material 212 to module 208 at a low pressure. The tank 214 can include a closure member 224 that covers a reservoir 226 that holds the liquid material 212 and a wheel 228 that facilitates moving the tank 214. In use, high pressure is generated in the discharge module 208 to inject a small amount of individual liquid material 202 onto the substrate 204 moving under the discharge module 208.

  12A-12C illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a nozzle 52a that includes a nozzle body 74a coupled to the module body 32a and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, wherein like reference numerals indicate like features. In this embodiment, the nozzle body 74a spirals when the piston tip 58a on the piston rod 54a enters and exits the recess 76a in a manner similar to that described above with respect to FIGS. 5A-5C. It includes a plurality of lobes 230 adjacent to the liquid chamber 40a to assist. As the piston tip 58a retracts from the recess 76a (FIG. 12A), low pressure liquid material can flow through the lobe 230 into the recess 76. When the piston tip 58a enters the recess 76a (FIG. 12B), the piston tip 58a substantially seals the recess 76a in a manner similar to that described above. When the piston tip 58a continues to move in the direction toward the nozzle 52a, the liquid material in the recess 76a is displaced through the nozzle passage 80a and the outlet 78a. When the piston tip 58a is fully seated in the recess 76a (FIG. 12C), the piston tip 58a prevents low pressure liquid material from “dripping” from the nozzle outlet 78a. 13A is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle 52A in a state where the piston tip 58a is in the position shown in FIG. 12B. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle 52A in a state where the piston tip 58a is in the position shown in FIG. 12C.

  Although various aspects in accordance with the principles of the present invention have been illustrated by descriptions of various embodiments, and these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, those embodiments limit the scope of the invention to such details. It is not intended to be limited in any way. The various features shown and described herein can be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope of the general inventive concept.

Claims (13)

An adhesive dispensing module having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the adhesive receives liquid material at low pressure through the inlet, and rapidly develops high pressure at the outlet to eject the liquid material from the outlet A discharge module;
A hot melt adhesive supply section maintained at a low pressure;
A low-pressure liquid passage communicating between the inlet of the adhesive discharge module and the supply unit;
Adhesive dispensing system comprising. The adhesive dispensing system according to claim 1,
The adhesive discharge module is
A liquid chamber in communication with the outlet and a recess proximate to the outlet;
A piston tip disposed in the liquid chamber;
Further comprising
The recess has a shape complementary to the piston tip and is adapted to receive the piston tip therein, whereby the piston tip generates the high pressure as it moves into the recess. Adhesive dispensing system. The adhesive dispensing system according to claim 2,
The piston tip has a first position in the liquid chamber where hot melt adhesive from the supply is placed in the recess, and the piston tip seals the liquid chamber from the supply of hot melt adhesive. An adhesive discharge system capable of reciprocating between a second position where the hot melt adhesive is sprayed and a third position where the hot melt adhesive is injected under high pressure from the outlet. The adhesive dispensing system according to claim 1,
The adhesive discharge system in which the supply section of the hot melt adhesive contains the hot melt adhesive in a solid form. The adhesive dispensing system according to claim 4,
An adhesive discharge system further comprising a spiral blade for feeding hot melt adhesive toward the adhesive discharge module. The adhesive dispensing system according to claim 4,
An adhesive discharge system further comprising a vacuum feeding mechanism for feeding a hot melt adhesive toward the adhesive discharge module. The adhesive dispensing system according to claim 1,
The adhesive dispensing system comprises a first adhesive dispensing module and a second adhesive dispensing module having respective first and second inlets, a first outlet and a second outlet, The first inlet and the second inlet receive liquid material at the same low pressure from the supply through respective first low pressure liquid passages and second low pressure liquid passages, and high pressure adjacent to the respective outlets. And an adhesive discharge system for injecting liquid material from the outlet at different speeds. The adhesive dispensing system according to claim 1,
The supply unit is an adhesive discharge system supported on the adhesive discharge module. An apparatus for injecting a liquid material,
A discharge device body connectable to a supply source of a liquid material, including a liquid chamber;
A piston disposed movably in the liquid chamber and having a piston tip;
A recess in fluid communication with the liquid chamber and a liquid outlet, the recess being shaped complementary to the piston tip so that the piston tip can be received within the recess;
With
The piston has a first position where the piston tip is spaced from the recess, and the piston tip effectively seals the recess to define an individual amount between the piston tip and the recess. A device for injecting liquid material to a second position and then movable to a third position in which the piston tip is received in the recess and displaces the discrete amount from the recess through the liquid outlet. The adhesive dispensing device according to claim 9, further comprising:
An open end in the discharge device body, the open end communicating with the liquid chamber;
A nozzle operably connected to the open end of the discharge device body;
Further comprising
The recess is a device formed in the nozzle. The adhesive dispensing device according to claim 9, further comprising:
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the piston tip has a spherical shape. A method of discharging a liquid material,
Supplying liquid material to the liquid chamber at a pressure sufficient to fill the liquid chamber but not causing the liquid material to be discharged from an outlet associated with the depression and in communication with the liquid chamber;
Effectively sealing a discrete amount of liquid material proximate to the depression;
Generating high pressure in the depression, injecting the discrete amount of liquid material from the outlet;
A discharge method for discharging a liquid material. The discharge method according to claim 12,
A method of dispensing wherein the pressure produced is in the range of about 400 pounds per square inch to about 2500 pounds per square inch.

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